VOA标准英语2009-Deficient Rains in India Raise Worries About

In India, stalled monsoon¹ rains are expected to revive soon. But there are concerns the shortfall in monsoon rains so far could adversely² impact crop production.
　
Indian women harvest tea leaves at a plantation³ in Kondoli, some 17 km from Nagaon in the northeastern state of Assam, 19 June 2009

The Indian Meteorological Department says monsoon rains could hit several states along the western and eastern coast over the next two to three days.

The monsoon rains arrived at the end of May as scheduled, but then slowed down. The weather department says rainfall in the first three weeks of June was 45 percent below normal.

The dry spell in June has worried millions of farmers in the country waiting to sow crops such as rice, and raised fears that food production, which is critically dependent on copious⁴ monsoon rains, could suffer this year.

Agriculture expert, Devender Sharma, says concerns about the deficient⁵ rains are running high in those parts of the country that have no access to modern irrigation systems.

"The most important areas which will face the crisis would be of course the dryland regions of India, which produces about 45 percent of total food requirement of the country," said Sharma. "Most of these are of course the crops which anything can go wrong, a few weeks or four weeks of delay of rainfall would mean a complete debacle."

Sharma says the next two weeks could be critical in determining whether the production of such crops as rice, oilseeds, cotton and corn will be impacted adversely.

The federal government says it is preparing to provide drought resistant⁶ varieties of seeds to regions that are dependent on the monsoons⁷. And it has convened⁸ a meeting later in the week of farm officials from states that could be hit hard such as Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The government monitors food grain production carefully to ensure that there is enough to meet the requirements of its one billion people. India is the world's second highest producer of rice and wheat.

Agriculture plays a crucial part in the Indian economy sustaining the livelihoods⁹ of nearly two-thirds of the country, or 600 million people. Although the farm sector¹⁰ contributes only 20 percent to the country's gross domestic product, good rains ensure higher incomes in the vast rural areas, and fuel demand for domestic products ranging from mobile phones to tractors.

The monsoons may also be crucial in ensuring the Indian economy, which is showing signs of emerging from the global recession, stays on the path of revival¹¹.

1 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

2 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

3 plantation   

n.种植园，大农场

参考例句：

• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
• The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。

4 copious   

adj.丰富的，大量的

参考例句：

• She supports her theory with copious evidences.她以大量的例证来充实自己的理论。
• Every star is a copious source of neutrinos.每颗恒星都是丰富的中微子源。

5 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

6 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

7 monsoons   

n.（南亚、尤指印度洋的）季风( monsoon的名词复数 )；（与季风相伴的）雨季；（南亚地区的）雨季

参考例句：

• In Ban-gladesh, the monsoons have started. 在孟加拉，雨季已经开始了。 来自辞典例句
• The coastline significantly influences the monsoons in two other respects. 海岸线在另外两个方面大大地影响季风。 来自辞典例句

8 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

9 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

10 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

11 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。